Chapter 26 Chapter 25 Reckless Battle in Anxiang City

In the fourteenth year of Tianzheng, autumn, Okazaki. Torches were lit in the courtyard.The eastern sky gradually turned white, and the flames were not as fierce as before.The generals sat under the light, their shadows swaying on the wall, exuding a miserable atmosphere everywhere. Hirota Matsudaira sits in the middle, with Daizo Abe and his younger brother Shirobei on his right, Masaku Sakai and Yasuki Ishikawa on his left.In addition, there were Matsudaira Geki, Okubo Brothers, Honda Heihachiro, and Abe Shiro Goro, who sat together.Everyone is fully armed and has a serious expression. "Bring Takechiyo." Hirochu ordered.His face was expressionless, and under the helmet, the pale forehead reflected the light, which added a bit of sadness to him in full armor, and even reminded people of dolls on Girls' Day.

Hirochu's aunt came in from the Nursery, and came to him with Takechiyo in her arms. "Daddy——" Takechiyo was still babbling, he smiled and stretched out his hands towards his father.Guangzhong stared at his chubby son intently.Takechiyo struggled in the arms of the Suinin, wanting to go to his father. Suinianyuan knew what the child meant, and said to Guangzhong, "My lord, give me a hug?" She handed the child over, but Guangzhong didn't extend his hand.He shook his head lightly, still staring at Takechiyo. "He will leave it to you." Guangzhong said softly.Suinian nodded.

Abe Daizo and Sakai Masarasuke turned their heads, unable to bear it.Heihachiro Honda looked into the yard and said, "It will be the fourth quarter of Yin time soon." The waiter brought wine and katsu chestnuts.Suininin hugged Takechiyo and walked behind Hironata, coaxing the noisy children. Guangzhong picked up Su Tao's wine glass, took a sip, and gave it to everyone.Everyone didn't speak, but there was no sense of tragedy, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed than when Hirodada was watching Takechiyo. "Let's have a big fight." Okubo Jinshiro handed the cup to Honda Heihachiro.

"Okay!" Heihachiro smiled while wearing a brand new suit of armor. The war horse had been led into the courtyard, and suddenly neighed.The cup was passed back to Guangzhong. "Are you all ready?" He stood up and slammed the Su Tao wine glass into pieces. "Oh!—Oh!—Oh!——" The crowd raised their swords and shouted in unison.Led by Abe Shiro Goro, everyone arrived in the courtyard.The loose atmosphere in the air is not commensurate with the solemn expedition ceremony.One-eyed Yami led the horse to Hiromada. "Father...father...ah..." Takechiyo's voice came from behind...

Before it was clear, the Okazaki people set off.According to yesterday's information, Oda Nobuhide's reinforcements have not yet reached Anxiang City.There are about six hundred soldiers defending the city.While patting the dew-wet grass, Yami thought, the enemy may not know about this surprise attack, so he can directly take the enemy general. It was not yet daylight.The ashigaru samurai followed with difficulty, carrying the fan-shaped horse seal on his shoulders.After Guangzhong on horseback left Okazaki Castle, he still rarely spoke.He would not be naive to think that the enemy was unaware of the attack.He knew very well how superb and ruthless Oda Nobuhide's wrists were.Before leaving the city, a heavy uneasiness haunted him all the time.Have to admit, this is actually an adventure.Veterans also disapproved of the action.But Guangzhong knew that his body was getting worse day by day, and he could no longer wait quietly.After all, Anxiang City is the ancestral property of the Songping family, and it has been the base of the Songping people up to Guangzhong's grandfather.But when he arrived in Guangzhong, the city was taken away by the enemy. If he didn't take it back, he would die. He really had no face to see his late father.

Probably due to lung disease, since Yu Da left, his cough and wheezing became more and more severe.Instead of bearing the burden of humiliation and waiting for the enemy to ravage it, it is better to take the initiative to attack.While Hiromada was anxiously waiting for the opportunity, news came that the Oda family had attacked Mino and retreated in embarrassment.Now is a great time!Guangzhong is determined to attack Anxiang City.In fact, the discord with Mrs. Tian Yuan is also one of Yuan Nan. "I'm too cruel!" Guangzhong was still thinking about it on horseback.Mrs. Tian Yuan has not had sex with Guangzhong so far.Guangzhong only loves Ah Chun and has never touched Mrs. Tian Yuan.Madame resented this.Moreover, she does not have Yu Da's gentleness and the wisdom and charm that attract Guang Zhong.

Under the advice of the veterans, Guangzhong would occasionally visit Erdao City, and when he got there, Tian Yuan would chatter endlessly. "Did the concubine make adults unhappy?" She leaned on Guangzhong, sobbing. "I won't let you go. I won't let you go. If you don't say a word, I won't let you go." Sometimes, she even made trouble out of no reason, "I want to hurt myself. Let my father and brother know how adults humiliated me." At this time, Guangzhong was at a loss.He thought of Ah Chun.Ah Chun is the complete opposite of Tian Yuan, she always acts according to his instructions.Such a comparison, where he still has the mood to communicate with his wife, he is already exhausted. "Ma'am, please forgive me. I am ill." Later, he would grow angry and leave her roughly to return to the city.

At some point, Tian Yuan began to scold Guangzhong for being incompetent behind his back, mocking him for falling in love with a humble maid but not loving her.Whenever he heard these words, a nameless fire of anxiety and anger rose in Guangzhong's chest. Suddenly, a horn sounded in front of the queue.It was broad daylight, and the milky morning mist hit his face coldly. "Bring the horse seal!" Guangzhong ordered sternly.After inserting the horse seal into the saddle, the horn sounded again.That was the signal that the vanguard had arrived at the intended location.About 500 soldiers were divided into several groups in the mature rice fields.In the morning mist, they let out a high-pitched cry and pushed forward.Undoubtedly, the defenders will come out to fight.But the attackers are familiar with the terrain in this area, so they are not without chance of winning.

"The city is about to be attacked, so I repeat, don't act rashly!" In the morning mist, Abe Daizo, the flag bearer, ran over. Guangzhong responded and nodded heavily.Dazang's eyes told him that they had already entered the state of tension and excitement before the battle.For Guangzhong, who has been on the battlefield since he was eleven or twelve years old, there is nothing unusual about the air here. Together at the end of the war, life and death are unpredictable.Once out of the city, Guangzhong felt that his body no longer belonged to him. "Da Zang, keep going!"

The main formation was arranged on a soil slope in the southwest corner of Anxiang City, and the formation was completed before the morning fog disappeared, waiting for the flag to be raised.Abe Daizo commanded the team, and Uemura Shinrokuro and One-eyed Yami, who was holding a spear, were in charge of guarding Hirochu. Shouts continued to be heard in the surrounding morning mist.The enemy was nowhere to be seen.Undoubtedly, they are preparing for battle in a panic.The soil slope ahead looks like an ink painting.Suddenly, a group of sparrows startled from the paddy field ahead, almost covering the slope.

Abe Dazang couldn't help stopping Ma Song, "Master!" he shouted.But Guangzhong didn't hear it. In the fading morning fog, he urged his horse forward from time to time. The sun rose high.The golden fan and horse seal passed down from his father Qingkang shone beautifully in the morning mist, and the subordinates in full armor had already rushed to the hills. "My lord!" Abe Dazang rushed forward and caught up with Hirochu, "Don't be careless. The enemy may have deployed troops outside the city." "The enemy is coming?" "Look, the direction the sparrow is flying to..." Just as they were talking, a group of sparrows twittered over their heads and flew towards the enemy.Guangzhong smiled slightly.If the enemy goes out of the city to fight, the Okazaki people have a chance of winning.If the enemy abandons the city and chooses to fight in the field, the Okazaki people can be one against ten. "What do you say, Dazang?" Dazang shook his head. "We must understand that since the enemy dares to go out of the city to fight, he must be sure of victory - after all, the opponent is the powerful Owari clan." "Hmph. Immediately set up the command flag on the slope." Soon after the command flag was erected, the morning fog gradually dispersed.Surrounded by golden rice fields, the ears of rice sway gently in the breeze, and the team that shuttles through them is as small as an ant colony.According to the command flag, the troops are pressing towards the city gate from all directions, but the city is quiet, no one shoots arrows, and no one seems to be guarding. Hiromada handed the whip to Yami, and was about to dismount when he suddenly looked back. "Ah?" The light of the spear was shining in a place that was impossible for our side to reach. "Da Zang, then—" Abe Dazang hurried over and looked back. "really……" "Who will it be?" "enemy." "Enemy?" Guangzhong exclaimed.At this moment, a horn sounded from somewhere, and countless white flags were erected in the rice fields at the same time.The first team, the second team, the third... The flag of the team in the front is dyed with five black stars. "Oh!" Hirochu shouted from his horseback, "It's that scoundrel, Hisamatsu Yakuro!" Abe Dazang remained silent, still staring closely at the rear.Flocks of sparrows passed overhead and flew into the distance, "My lord! The enemy's reinforcements have arrived." "Oh." Guangzhong's wrist trembled violently. "Yaya, horsewhip!" "Yes!" Yami handed over the whip that he had just received.Guangzhong's horse kicked up its front hooves and galloped towards the hillside. "My lord!" Dazang shouted from behind, "No...don't act rashly, my lord!" But Yami's one-eyed shone brightly, and he flew out. The enemy's horns sounded louder and louder.Guangzhong's actions were indeed reckless.Seeing that the vanguard of the enemy turned out to be Toshikatsu Hisamatsu Yakuro, Yu Da's husband, his blood flowed for a while. "You bastard, Yakuro!" When Yu Dashang was in Okazaki Castle, Hirochu once mediated the dispute between Junsheng's father, Dingyi, and the lord of Ono City, Ueno, and it can be said that he was kind to the Hisamatsu family.Not only does Yakuro not know how to repay his kindness, but as Yu Da's husband, he acts as the enemy's striker!Guangzhong's hatred erupted like a volcano.If the enemy's reinforcements cannot be defeated in one fell swoop, one's own side will suffer from the enemy.He must rush to defeat the reinforcements before the defenders in the city go out to meet the battle. He also has such considerations, but personal grievances have the upper hand. When Guangzhong was rushing down the hill, several arrows were aimed at him.In the rain of arrows, Guangzhong drew his knife.Calmly swinging the knife to block arrows, he slashed obliquely at Hisamatsu Sado's flag... Oda Nobuhide had advanced behind Hisamatsu Yakuro.He laughed loudly: "That boy Okazaki is crazy. Hahaha. Quick, blow the horn, blow the horn!" "My lord, do you want to set up a military flag?" "Not yet, it's too early. After the defenders leave the city, suddenly stick the flag under the enemy's nose!" Yaya has already rushed into Hisamatsu's vanguard with a gun.He rushed left and right, as if he wanted to fight a bloody path for Guangzhong. "Iwamatsu Yaya is here! Those who stand in my way will die!" The enemy scattered to both sides in a panic. "Uchikuro. Go!" An ashigaru samurai came out in response. "Rogue! Do you know that I am one-eyed Yaya?" Jiu Liu didn't answer. "My lord, you step back!" He yells at Joon-seok. Jun Sheng obediently turned the horse's head and went back. "Where to escape! Yakuro! Stop!" But Jiuliu stood on the narrow field ridge, blocking Yami's way. "Yaya, hurry up!" Hirochu was jolting on the horseback, urging, but Takeuchi Kyuroku pointed a gun at Yaya, with a calm expression and motionless. Suddenly, cheers sounded from behind, and the guards rushed out of the city. Guangzhong's horse jumped up again.Arrows shot towards the golden fan horse seal, raining down, and one of them hit the horse's buttocks.Only then did Cyclops Yaya realize that the sweat on his forehead was continuously flowing into Cyclops like rain.The opponent's face blurred.Not a single drop of sweat could be seen on his forehead. "This person is no one to be taken lightly..." His heart was heavy, and he instinctively felt that this battle might be unfavorable.If this continues, the Okazaki Army may soon be cut off from retreat. "My lord, step back!" But Guangzhong didn't hear it. "My lord! Abe Shiro Goro is here!" "Okubo Shinhachiro Tadatoshi is here!" Seeing the critical situation, the two protected Hirochu from left and right.Abe Dazang is no longer nearby. "My lord! Step back!" Yami yelled again when he heard Hirochu's horse panting violently behind him. At this moment, shouts came from the grass on the right. "Ah—" Someone yelled. "It's the horse seal of Oda Dansho!" "Oh!" Yami sighed in a low voice.Now that Oda Nobuhide has appeared, how can Okazaki have a chance of winning?That elusive general has undoubtedly cut off Guangzhong's retreat. "My lord! Quickly retreat..." he called again.Suddenly, an incredible sound spread around, and even the ground trembled.Yaya's right leg plopped and knelt down.But he was not shot by an arrow, nor was he stabbed by a gun. His right leg felt like it was being burned by charcoal fire, and he felt a piercing pain. Yaya tilted her neck, ready to face Kuroku. Although the head of this one-eyed warrior will be a rare trophy on today's battlefield, Jiu Liu has no intention of killing it.He said, "Ah, is it a musket?" Yami didn't understand what he meant, and only heard the man continue to say: "The general is here." Then, he put away his gun and quickly retreated to Junsheng's banner. Yami immediately relaxed, only to find that her legs were dripping with blood. "What a weirdo!" He still thought he had been stabbed by Jiuliu, and he couldn't believe that there was a weapon that could kill someone just by sound.At this time, the blood on the legs had soaked through the pants.That man shoots so fast!I didn't even see how he pulled out the gun - Yaya took off the pre-prepared cloth strips from his waist and bound his legs.Only then did he realize that the enemy had been tightly surrounded from all directions.He couldn't move anymore and felt that his life was going to end.The sound of horns, the sound of swords fighting, the sound of shouting, and the sound of arrows piercing the air, all these gradually faded away, and he only saw the blue sky. At this moment, a scolding voice suddenly sounded in his ear: "Yami, stand up!" "Yes Yes!" "I'm Heihachiro Honda. Are you still from Okazaki?" "Yes Yes." "Then you must stand up! Stand up and protect the lord!" "Obey!" Yami put her hands on the ground.When he awoke, his eyes could barely see. "My lord! Where is my lord? Yami I... Yami I..." Yami crawled forward, his body rolled into the paddy field, and a blush appeared in front of his eyes. "My lord! Yami... I'm here, Yami." Honda Heihachiro is no longer around.Oda Nobuhide's reinforcements, waving flags in the grass on the right, have completely surrounded Matsudaira's main camp, and are gradually shrinking the encirclement.Songping people have been divided and surrounded.The soldiers who came out of the city and the reinforcements who did not enter the city cleverly wove a net, enclosing the Songping people inside. The front is the enemy, and the back is also the enemy.It was a mistake to rush to the Five-Star Flag and kill the hills because of impulsiveness, but now I can't go back.Guangzhong finally realized his recklessness.My father was murdered by Xinxiu, and now I have to make the same mistake!He tightened the reins, slapped his horse and rushed towards Xinxiu's formation, and at the same time said to his fellow Songping Waiji next to him, "Waiji, come with me! This is the final sprint!" The sky is clear and shining. Waiji responded and followed behind Guangzhong.Guangzhong's horse has already been hit by three arrows.On a sunny autumn day, only the golden horse seal is particularly eye-catching.Oda Nobuhide saw all this from a distance, and slapped the saddle pot again, he smiled, everything was expected. "Don't shoot, save ammo." Because he found that the first use of muskets on the battlefield did not arouse fear in ignorant opponents.Moreover, the first expensive bullet missed Hirochu, only hit the one-eyed Yaya who was rushing forward, and Yaya didn't seem to know what hit him. "Our own people are coming, and if you miss the head a little, you may be injured by accident. Stop shooting." In fact, there is no need to show your muskets. As soon as you see Hirochu's horse seal, the Owari Army will hold long guns and swarm up from all directions.The archers also aimed at him.Xinxiu secretly laughed at Guangzhong's impatience.There are about two hundred rooms between them.There is a small river in the middle, and the water of the river is shining in the autumn sun.Xinxiu felt that Guangzhong couldn't even reach the small river. Guangzhong had already swung his knife and chopped down the first person who stabbed him with a gun.Suddenly, a gun stabbed his horse in the head.The horse raised its hooves in pain and jumped into the air. The golden fan was like a painting, emitting gorgeous light. "As expected, like father, like son. Don't let him go!" Guangzhong finally came to the river.He is in danger.The golden fan hides behind the bushes, and Xinxiu's sight is blocked.A samurai from Okazaki's team flew towards the river like an arrow from the string.On the small flag on the back, the word "Fujimaru" is written in big letters. "Shinpachi, hurry up!" Another person followed.With the Likui flag erected behind his back, the man waved his sword and leaned towards Guangzhong. "Is it Honda Heihachi?" Nobusu guessed right.During the melee, it was Okubo Shinhachiro Tadatoshi who first discovered Hirochu's critical situation, and then Honda Hei Hachitaka who bravely broke through the encirclement to protect Hirochu.Matsudaira Geki and Abe Shiro Goro had already stood in front of Hirodama, and they were enough to scare the Owari soldiers who came rushing forward. "My lord! Let's fight to the death together!" Okubo Shinhachiro ran straight for the enemy on the left, while Honda Heihachi approached Hirotada brandishing a broadsword, then suddenly grabbed his horse's reins and jumped into the stream on the right. "Are you crazy? Heihachi! Go ahead and kill. Nobuhide's main line is right in front of you." "Nonsense!" Heihachiro no longer cared about dignity. "Retreat! Quick!" "etc!" "Can't wait any longer. Get out of the river. Out of the enemy's arrows." Guangzhong gritted his teeth, as if calling something, but Heihachiro didn't hear it, he just pulled the horse into the stream. There is not a single decent tree on either side of the creek.Only some weeping willows and a few wild mulberry trees are just about to sprout green, but they can finally hide some.They hide behind trees. "My lord!" Heihachiro looked back at Hirochu, his teeth were about to shatter, "Is my lord still the Lord of Okazaki?" "Hachiro!" "Down—get off your horse!" "What did you say? Are you ordering me?" "Yes!" Heihachiro roared, and suddenly rushed towards Hirochu. This is no longer a rational fight, but two emotionally excited men fighting.It was impossible for Guangzhong to win, fatigue swept his whole body. "Hey!" Heihachiro yelled and almost lifted Hirotada and pushed him to the ground. "Let's... be presumptuous!" "If you are rude, you can apologize afterwards. But you only have one life." After pushing Hirochu down, Heihachiro didn't give up, grabbed his chest again, and rode on him like a horse. "What are you going to do?" "Give me the armor." "Heihachi! You..." "For disobedience, let me go to that world to plead guilty." Guangzhong has no strength to resist.After a while, the armor was stripped off, and he was put on Heihachiro's heavy, sweaty helmet. "My lord, take care!" Heihachiro yelled loudly as he placed the small flag behind Hiromada. Guangzhong didn't have the strength to straighten his armor, so he let out a grunt in his throat, but he still raised his head.He saw the golden fan horse seal handed down by his father Qingkang gleaming and gradually disappearing. Oda Nobuhide never expected that Hirodada, who had disappeared from sight, would reappear from the stream again.What a dead end! "Poor guy!" When he thought of the difference in age, a wave of emotion came to his heart, but he didn't relax his vigilance.There were more than 20 archers ambushing on both sides of him, just waiting for Guangzhong to cross the stream.The spear team has also ambushed ahead. "Hmph!" Xinxiu clasped her hands.In the bushes, the golden horse print was shaking. "Jing is still alive, so patient!" He was talking to himself, the horse was completely exposed in front of him.Bows and arrows shot past like raindrops.The arrow seemed to be sucked, and shot at Guangzhong's armor, but the men and horses did not fall.The pikemen galloped up to the horses, shouting.The horse still didn't stop. Honda Heihachiro Tadatoyo held Hirochu's horse seal aloft, and with his last strength, led the enemy to the far horizon. The Pikemen rushed forward and caught up with the horse in a blink of an eye.Oda Nobuhide stared intently at the horse.The man on the horse must have been injured, but his posture remained the same, refusing to let go of the rein.That amazing fighting spirit couldn't help but make Xinxiu feel awed, and whispered, "Sure enough, he is the son of Qingkang, with extraordinary bearing." Seeing that Xinxiu wanted to fight in person, a person behind him said: "My lord!"Xinxiu nodded with a wry smile. At this time, two stubborn and mighty young generals stepped out from Nobuhide's side, holding the long spears that the Oda family was proud of.Both of them painted scarlet on the tassels of their spears.This is the long spear that won the title of "Seven Spears" in the Battle of Shodozaka in the past. "Oda Sonsaburo Nobumitsu came to meet Hirochu-kun." "Azumazaka Seven Guns Nakano Matabei is here!" The two shouted hoarsely, and at the same time pierced their spears at the horse's head.The horse finally stopped.The man's armor on the horse's back shook slightly, his hands fell down feebly, and his upper body suddenly fell heavily to the right.The two took a step back, and at the same time, the man fell off the horse with a plop.Before falling off the horse, he seemed to be saying, "Matsudaira Hirochu came to meet Oda Tansho..." Seeing Guangzhong fell from the horse, Nakano suddenly raised his gun and wanted to stab him. "Wait!" Xinxiu stopped, "He is already dead." Xinxiu slowly approached the corpse, took the golden fan and horse seal, and slightly closed the dead man's wide-open eyes, "It's so admirable!" Suddenly, there was silence around, as if everything had stopped moving.Hirate Masahide walked up slowly. "Let's make sure, maybe it's not Guangzhong." He knelt down on one knee and was about to lift off the armor with his hands. "No need. No need." Nobuhide said, "It's probably Honda Heihachiro. No need... just take him as Matsudaira Hirodada. It's really admirable." Zhengxiu also clasped his hands together. In this burst of noise, the people who jumped into the stream disappeared.Okubo Shinhachiro, Abe Shirogoro, and Matsudaira Geki have all disappeared.I don't know who gathered the team, but the Matsudaira people had already retreated with their flags down. Perhaps it was the instruction of Honda Heihachiro before galloping to Hirochu's side. The sun has risen very high.Of course, the Oda family can't pursue them with only the vanguard.Although the Songping people retreated just because of this thought, the victory or defeat was already clear. On the tower of Anxiang City, the flag of the Oda Clan is still flying.